AL lawmaker proposes sex offender castration bill

An Alabama lawmaker is proposing a bill requiring some sex offenders to be castrated before being released from prison.

Republican Rep. Steve Hurst of Munford is proposing the bill for the 2014 legislative session.

The bill would require sex offenders who are over the age of 21 whose victims were 12 or younger to be surgically castrated before being released from prison. Under the bill, the sex offender would be required to finance their own castration.

Rep. Hurst proposed a version of the bill last year but it didn't make it out of committee.

In 2012, nine states had laws involving chemical castration for sex offenders.